Compare Paris to Normandy's Landing Beaches by Avalon Waterways vs Walks & Gardens of the French Riviera by Exodus Travels

Day 1: Arrive In Paris, France (Embarkation)

Meals: Dinner

Welcome to Paris, France’s capital on the River Seine, the “City of Light,” where romance fills the air. This afternoon, board your river cruise vessel and meet your crew at an evening welcome reception. Before dinner, your ship glides smoothly out of Paris.

NOTE: Flights into Paris must arrive by 2:30 pm. Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm.

Day 2: Vernon–Les Andelys

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

This morning in Vernon, choose between a guided visit of Giverny and a visit to Bizy Castle. Claude Monet lived at GIVERNY for almost 43 years (1883-1926), and viewed his flower and water gardens as works of art—just like his paintings. See his collection of Japanese prints, his charming house, and his biggest sources of inspiration. Or, visit BIZY CASTLE, built in 1740 and nicknamed “Normandy’s Versailles.” It is known for its famous stables—inspired by those at Versailles—and its magnificent courtyard and water garden. After lunch, join an onboard PASTRY DEMONSTRATION before your ship arrives in Les Andelys, situated on a bend of the Seine and one of the most beautiful places in France. Join a Local Guide for a GUIDED WALK of the town, visiting the PARISH CHURCH OF LE GRAND ANDELY. Imposing Château Gaillard, built by England’s King Richard the Lionheart as a fortress in 1196, is seen above the town. Constructed in only a year, it is a masterpiece of medieval military architecture.

Day 3: Caudebec

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Today, either join an excursion along the Route des Chaumières to see some of Normandy’s charming and traditional half-timbered houses with their long, sloping thatched roofs, often sporting blue wooden doors and window shutters, or visit JUMIÈGES ABBEY, a former Benedictine Abbey church considered one of the most ancient and important monasteries in the western world. The afternoon is free to explore on your own or to join an optional excursion to the pretty coastal town of Honfleur. Before dinner, you may wish to attend an ONBOARD LECTURE about D-Day.

Day 4: Caudebec

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Make your choice today between an included full-day excursion to the historic NORMANDY LANDING BEACHES—with poignant sites such as Omaha Beach, the Pointe du Hoc monument, and the American Cemetery—or a “TASTE OF NORMANDY” for an in-depth look at this picturesque, mainly agricultural region. The most important products are dairy, apples, and grain. Camembert cheese is a specialty, as is CALVADOS, a strong apple brandy you’ll have the chance to taste at a local distillery. And for a touch of history, visit the famous BAYEUX TAPESTRY.

Day 5: Rouen

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Rouen, the capital of Upper Normandy, is an important commercial city perhaps best known for its connection to Joan of Arc, who lived, was imprisoned, and burned at the stake in the marketplace of this town in 1431. Enjoy the included GUIDED WALK through the medieval quarter with its half-timbered, glazed-tile houses, and take your pictures of the intricate Gros Horloge astronomical clock, dating back to the 16th century. Visit the gothic CATHEDRAL, which was once the tallest building in the world and the subject of a series of paintings by Claude Monet. The afternoon is free to explore on your own.

Day 6: Conflans–Paris

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

After breakfast you may either join our included guided excursion to Auvers-Sur-Oise, the quaint little town where Vincent Van Gogh lived and died, or to Napoleon and Josephine’s Château De Malmaison just outside Paris. Requiring extensive renovations, this large country estate was purchased by Josephine Bonaparte in 1799 while Napoleon was fighting in Egypt. It was her aim to make it “the most beautiful and curious garden in Europe, a model of good cultivation.” This evening, arrive in Paris.

Day 7: Paris

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Known as one of the world’s most romantic and lively cities, Paris is a delight for all your senses. Your included city sightseeing shows you magnificent must-see sights, such as Notre dame cathedral, the unique Louvre museum with its glass pyramid as a contrast to its ancient architecture, the commemorative Arc de Triomphe, and the Eiffel tower. Alternatively, you may wish to join a guided walk through historic iîe st. Louis with its narrow one-way streets and Iîe de la Cité, the center of Paris where the medieval city was founded and home to Notre dame cathedral. In your free time, stroll down the Champs-elysées with its lavish cafés, or perhaps visit the world-famous Louvre or Montmartre with its gleaming white Sacré Coeur basilica and bevy of artists on place du Tertre. Paris is also well known for its colorful nightlife, and an optional outing to one of the world’s most famous cabaret shows, the Moulin rouge, might make the perfect finale to your seine cruise vacation.

Day 8: Paris (Disembarkation)

Meals: Breakfast

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.

Day 1 Start Menton

Our start point is a comfortable three-star hotel in Menton. Situated just a short stroll from the railway station, beach and shops, it is ideally located for a week of walking. In the evening, our guide will hold a welcome meeting to discuss the week ahead, give advice on the local area and answer any questions.

Day 2 Walk to and around Cap Martin Peninsula, through Menton and Carnolès

Starting from the hotel, we stop at the market where we discover local food ingredients, then take the train or public bus to Carnolès. In the grounds of the Palais Carnolès and Musée des Beaux-Arts, we find a renowned collection of citrus trees. After time exploring the gardens, we start our walk around the beautiful Cap Martin Peninsula where we stop for a picnic lunch. After lunch, we visit the Cap Martin olive groves then walk or take the bus back to Menton.

Day 3 Discover Eze; visit the Exotic Garden. Walk down the Nietzche path to join Eze Plage

We begin our day with a 20-minute train journey to Eze Plage, and carry on by bus to Eze, a medieval village established in the 14th century with magnificent coastal views. From here, we can walk up to the Mont Bastide castle ruins to admire amazing views before we visit the Exotic Garden, which is built 1,407ft (429m) above sea level on the site of an ancient fortress in Eze village. It overlooks the Provençal hill village providing home for cacti, succulents, xerophytes and various Mediterranean species. After free time in the village, we walk down the Nietzsche path to join Eze Plage, before taking the train back to Menton.

Day 4 Train or bus to Carnolès; walk to Roquebrune. Take the ferry shuttle to cross Monaco harbour; discover Monaco old town

Today we take a train or bus to Carnolès, followed by a walk to Roquebrune where we enjoy stunning views over Monaco. Then we walk down to Monaco where we take the ferry shuttle to cross Monaco harbour. We discover the old town with tiny streets and beautiful buildings and the casino, before returning by train to Menton.

Day 5 Free day to explore Menton old town, take a trip to the chic principality of Monaco or visit one of the many exotic gardens in the area

On your free day, you could choose to explore Menton old town. During the 19th century, the British and Russian aristocracy met here in fabulous palaces and villas. The architecture is stunning with the unique baroque style of the Saint-Michel and Conception squares plus the Saint-Michel Basilica façade. Alternatively, you could visit one or more of the eight gardens in Menton or head further afield to Nice by train or bus and visit its renowned market and the Promenade des Anglais. Monaco also has much to offer despite its diminutive size, and is renowned for the luxurious lifestyle afforded to its residents.

Day 6 Train to Villefranche bay; walk to Cap Ferrat and to Saint Hospice peninsula

This morning, we take the train to Villefranche from where we walk to the Gavinette point to admire the spectacular view of Villefranche bay. We continue our walk to Cap Ferrat where we can marvel at the beauty of Villa de Rothschild and its gardens.

Day 7 Visit to Serre de la Madone garden showcasing rare subtropical plants, followed by a visit to Sainte Agnes

In the morning we take the public bus to the Serre de la Madone garden for a visit. Created by Sir Lawrence Johnston, it was turned from terraces of vines and olives into a garden bright with drifts of agapanthus and strelitzia. After our visit, a private bus will collect and take us to the village of Sainte Agnès. High above Menton town, it is registered as “one of the most beautiful French villages”. It hides picturesque streets and artist studios and, at 2,625ft (800m) above sea level, offers a breath-taking view over the blue Mediterranean Sea. We then take the bus or walk back to the hotel.

Day 8 End Menton

After a relaxed breakfast, we say our goodbyes and begin our return journey home. If you’d like to explore a little more, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay.